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As I woke this morning and checked my phone, I was greeted with the sad news that a resident of our village lost his life in a horrific house fire overnight. As I kept reading, I further learned that two more heroes of our state made the ultimate sacrifice in Syracuse.
First and foremost, on behalf of the Village of Albion Police Department, we offer our condolences to the family, friends and neighbors of the gentleman that tragically lost his life this morning. I know our officers, our Fire Department personnel, our dispatchers and all first responders in our county were ready and willing to put their lives on the line to save his life.
To the family, I know that no amount of sympathy will fill the void, but we are sorry for your loss. We are sorry we couldn’t save him. Know that we all stand here ready to help, ready to talk and ready to listen if you ever need anything. Do not hesitate to ask.
What I would like to say next, I say to all those willing to listen.
Who will you call when there is nobody left to answer?
One month ago we said goodbye to a hero, Sgt. Sanfratello of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Now a month later, we must lay to rest two more heroes of the Syracuse Police Department and Onondaga Sheriff’s Office. That is three families forever changed, forever broken.
For those out there that say, “You knew the risks” or “That’s your job,” we know. And for those of us that are left, we will continue to fight. We will continue to roll out of bed, kiss our families goodbye, and do our best to serve and protect, knowing that it may be the last time we ever get to. We will continue to sacrifice our weekends; we will continue to lose our holidays; we will continue to miss our children grow. We will do all of this, day in and day out, until we no longer can.
But I say this, not as a threat nor a dire warning, but rather as a harsh reality of the world we live in. Police recruitment is at an all-time low. Police retention is at an all-time low. Departments all over our area, our state and our great nation are understaffed and struggling to keep up with crime. And those of us that are left, we are tired. We are so tired. We are ridiculed by the media, we are claimed to be “overpaid” by those in charge. We are vilified because of the actions of one bad cop. We are condemned, cussed at, spit on, attacked and murdered.
But we continue to fight. We continue to serve and protect, whether we are supported or not. Because “we know the risk,” and we do not care. But eventually we will be gone. And I don’t know if there will be anyone left to take our place and pick up that shield. So again I ask, Who will you call when there is nobody left to answer?
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
In this little town of Albion, there’s a champion. My mother raised me while fighting rheumatoid arthritis. It crippled her hands and her feet. There were many days growing up I would wake up to her screaming in agony from being in pain from it. She would take Tylenol and Ibuprofen to barely take the pain away before going off to work.
Later on she discovered a small lump that would ended up being early stages of breast cancer. She fought and went through radiation and was cancer-free in the early 2000s. That same cancer returned with a vengeance when she was diagnosed stage 3 in 2019.
She fought that battle undergoing a partial mastectomy in early 2020 before the pandemic, while also undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and chemo pills. She finished radiation the summer of 2020 and was declared cancer-free again in 2021. She had told me by the time of her partial mastectomy the cancer was slowing progressing into stage 4.
I tell her almost every day to be proud of the warrior she is and the fact for not just being a two-time cancer survivor is that she gets out on her three-wheeled bike and rides all over town. She goes from her home here on Butts Road at her age of 72 after dealing with cancer and fighting crippling arthritis that has severely affected both her hands and her feet. If anyone has seen her around town riding she is the little lady that rides the red and white three-wheeled bike with the basket on the back with the dark-colored helmet.
The end of this little story is that same warrior that is my mother is currently in the hospital at her age fighting a battle with sepsis and some other serious issues. She has been in United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia to being transferred to Rochester General. She needs all the thoughts and prayers she can get it so she can come home to a family that misses her including a 5-year-old little boy that misses his grandma.
She’s got a heart of an eagle, that always finds a way to survive.
Orleans County residents, your complacency has and will affect your wallets and mine.
I have been to County Legislature meetings and, God as my witness, said I am over-taxed. I put on record that I don’t agree with the purposed District Court, which I believe will raise taxes eventually.
I have been to my Town Board meetings and my town workshop meetings and expressed my desire for law & order and Conservative spending. I at least read my Village of Lyndonville meeting minutes and Orleans County minutes. Where are my neighbors?
Where are those that tell me they feel the same as me? In November 2023 was a chance to make a change in the Legislature and none was made, no change of the Town of Yates Board neither. Voter turnout was low.
March 19, 2024 there were village elections and voter turn-out was again low and no change. You must judge your employees better. If they do things that you disagree with, vote them out of office.
It bothers me that I read and hear, “Well that does it. I moving out here.” I was raised that to the coward there is no glory or remembrance. Let us band together and demand lower taxes.
Let us make term limits if not by law then by the ballot box.
I am working on something that I will hold secret for now. Know this, fraud spoils everything. The truth always comes out. You can always tell a man or a woman’s character by their actions. Words are meaningless.
Join me at county meetings. Join me at town meetings. Join me at the polling station. Check every box for a candidate, if you don’t like one of them write in someone who shares your thoughts. Let your voice be heard.
June 25 is Primary voting. Don’t like the candidates, talk to other voters and pick someone who shares your values. Don’t keep voting for the same people, that is insanity. Obviously, they don’t care.
November 5 is the day for federal elections. Setting a time and date for grievances then not giving you a chance for grievances is unconstitutional. Public servants work for you.
First Amendment is the right to petition and state your grievances and demand redress of those grievances. We can also demand a grand jury to investigate suspected misconduct by public servants.
Join me, let us work together to fix our local governments and make Orleans County, NY great for families and businesses.
Perhaps if the Orleans County Legislature would cease hoarding sales tax revenue and provide a fair share to localities, residents might be more inclined to agree to a consolidation of town courts.
Governance is (or should be) the art of compromise, is it not?
With all due respect, I am submitting my opinion on a recent article written on the Hub. I refer (my own personal) thoughts on the presentation and distribution of the book “Mediums at Large.”
Mike Fisher, an educator at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, was awarded a grant to present his book to Roy-Hart Middle School students, giving these students personal copies. Is this really stories or mysteries? Not in my opinion, I believe this grooming/or the introduction to these young students to delve into the world of Spiritualism and the occult.
Lily Dale is Spiritualism – palm reading, psychic readings, crystals all of which smack of the occult and demonic realm. I strongly feel that none of this should be allowed and introduced into the public schools. This is not the first time this has occurred at the R/H school system.
Years ago my youngest daughter in grade 4 came home telling me “a psychic” was part of the school assembly that day. It was introduced as a candy fundraiser for the school, and yes included a representative from Lily Dale. She told the students to “close their eyes, envision waterfalls and ‘I can read your minds.’”
I was/am livid that parents weren’t/most likely aren’t aware of these controversial programs coming into the schools. Parents, wake up and ask questions. Approach the school board as to “what do you expose our children to without parental permission?”
I personally have grandchildren in that same R/H Middle School. I am furious!
The purpose of the letter is to ensure the proper and correct information is available to Shelby residents so they can remain informed on their town water supply.
Currently the town of Shelby purchases water from the Village of Medina (supplied by Niagara County Water), at a rate of $5.97 per thousand gallons. The town of Shelby adds a maintenance fee to maintain and repair the town’s water infrastructure. The town of Shelby and the village of Medina are currently in talks negotiating water rates.
The Town of Royalton has agreed to supply the Town of Shelby the same water (Niagara County Water), at a rate of $3.00 per thousand gallons through an existing connection in between the towns. Again Shelby would have to add a maintenance fee to maintain the infrastructure.
Recently there was an article in the Orleans Hub talking about a presentation from an engineering firm that occurred at a special water meeting on March 28. There was also a previous presentation from another engineering firm presented on March 12 at the regular town board meeting.
I would request Shelby residents watch both presentations on the Town of Shelby YouTube page, which occurred on March 12 and March 28, respectively. In that meeting it is presented that preliminary tests demonstrate there appears to be adequate pressure to supply at least part of Shelby with water. This presentation (March 12) included adding water pipe along several roads in the Town. The pipes are optional at this time; even if only the connection is opened it will save taxpayers money.
Last year the town of Shelby flushed/dumped 1.2 million gallons of water near/at the connection between Shelby and Royalton due to low PPM (parts per million) chlorine in the system. If the water is not moving and used, it starts to degrade and lose its chlorination.
In total the town of Shelby had to dump 2.36 million gallons of water due to low PPM at dead end pipes. (The town of Shelby paid full price for the water dumped on the ground, and for water line leaks/breaks.) Numerous leaks were found and repaired last summer, and is an ongoing pursuit for the town. A major leak under Oak Orchard Creek was detected and repaired directly resulting in large quarterly savings.
If the connection between Royalton and Shelby is opened, the town is not only cutting their water bill, but fresh water with the required chlorine ppms are being introduced into the system thereby reducing the need to flush/dump water. These two reasons alone will save taxpayers money.
Funding for a second connection was budgeted for and approved in the Town’s 2024 budget, no additional funding is required for the connection. Both engineering firms stated updated testing needs to be done to determine pressures, and determine the path forward. The board has agreed further testing has to be done to determine the best viable option to move forward.
With a second connection from the Town of Royalton, the influx of fresh chlorinated water along with the supply from Medina will ensure a safe and secure supply for the taxpayers of Shelby.
I urge you to get involved, attend board meetings (2nd Tuesday each month @7 p.m.), or watch the meetings on YouTube. Let your voice be heard.
We Americans are running out of time to “wake up and smell the coffee.” Wishful thinking and dwelling on our fantasies while ignoring the realities of the early twenty-first century risk the loss of something we have enjoyed since 1789.
John Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Madison, John Jay, et.al. don’t need to be betrayed by the loss of the republic they worked so hard – and risked so much – to create.
What is a republican form of government? Why did the Founders describe the legislative branch of our Constitutional republic in the First Article of the document that describes our ingenious and revolutionary system rather than the Second or Third Article?
Why has one of our likely major party nominees for the office of President this year described Vladimir Putin as a “great leader”? Why has Russia’s “elected dictator” (Hitler in red) shown a preference for one of our likely candidates for President?
As someone who attempted to teach the Constitution accurately for about thirty years, I am convinced that one of our 2024 candidates for President has little appreciation for what the Founders were trying to establish when the historic document was written in the late 18th century.
Should we continue to ignore the heavy-duty responsibility of the citizens of a republic this time, it could be “game over.” If we get it wrong in 2024, our Constitutional republic may be “history.”
To the taxpayers of Medina and fellow keyboard warriors, now is the time to request items from the village board, as it is budget time.
They have the ability to set aside funds for needed projects and upgrades. Normally a request that is not budgeted for is denied. However now is the key planning time so it can be budgeted for.
Budget time is tedious and there are a lot of wants vs needs considered by your elected officials. Overall, the tax rate will drop due to assessments going up. That doesn’t mean your bill will go down, so might as well make your request known for this upcoming budget year.
If possible attend the upcoming board meetings, or reach out to the elected officials, so your voice can be heard. Medina residents are what make Medina amazing.
We are a small village. Your voice matters. Let it be heard.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2024 at 3:39 pm
News site would benefit if state law changed to allow legal notices in online news publications
Photo by Tom Rivers: It was a sight to behold on Aug. 20, 2017, when John Brown of Batavia was driving a car in the Oak Orchard River. Brown was giving his friends, Bill and Joanne Hayes, a ride in a 1964 Amphicar. Brown’s dog Reagan, an English Setter, also enjoyed the experience. Orleans Hub was at Point Breeze for a fishing derby awards ceremony, but the Amphicar was causing a stir.
The Orleans Hub is 11 years old. We’ve kept the news coming during a time when many newspapers are closing or shrinking.
We went live on April 1, 2013. In the 11 years we’ve had 39,294 posts about local news, events and people.
Orleans County is considered by some to be a “news desert” because there isn’t a locally based printed newspaper. The Lake Country Pennysaver is considered a “community paper” and goes to 20,000 households.
The county shows up on a map (click here) as an underserved community. Orleans is the only county out of 62 in the state without a newspaper based in the county.
We think we are filling a lot of the gap since The Journal-Register and Albion Advertiser closed. Those newspapers were running pretty bare bones by the time they shut down. The Journal-Register was actually based out of Lockport in Niagara County when it shut down about a decade ago.
I started at Albion Advertiser and Journal-Register nearly 28 years ago. The two papers were owned by the same conglomerate and together there were six or seven full-time reporters for the county back in 1996. Now, I’m the last full-time reporter devoted to Orleans County. I’ve been the last full-timer for about a decade now.
The Orleans Hub is based out of The Lake Country Pennysaver building in Albion, although the news editor, correspondent and sports editor write nearly all of their articles from home. We post some articles in coffee shops and other places where we can get a good WiFi signal.
In the early days of the Hub, some predicted we wouldn’t last 6 months. It is a very tough business after all. But we have shown a commitment to the county and getting a lot of news out each day. We post about 3,500 articles a year.
We appreciate we have enough advertisers so we don’t have to do a subscription-based model. Our intent is to keep the news site open to the community without requiring a fee to see the news.
A big help for us would be a change in the state law to allow online-only news sites to carry legal notices, those announcements of public hearings, meetings and new local laws. Right now, they have to be in a paid newspaper with some circulation in the county. Most notices don’t meet the legal requirement to be allowed in a community paper like the Pennysaver, either.
The Daily News of Batavia carries most of the legal notices from Orleans. Some of the local governments have tried to have the notices in the Orleans Hub, where there is a much higher readership in our county, compared to The Daily News circulation here. But it’s not allowed. Medina village officials were the latest to try to get the legal notices for the Orleans Hub. But they said the Hub doesn’t fit the legal requirement so the legals will continue to be in The Daily.
That money would certainly help us, and would also get the notices in a more widely read local publication. And I bet we’d do it at a lower cost to the local governments.
We encourage our local state legislators to push for a change in this requirement, so online news sites can carry the notices. Perhaps, a starting point could be for online news sites to be allowed to carry legal notices in counties without a paid printed newspaper based in that county.
One state Legislature recently passed legislation to allow legals to be in online-only news organizations. The bill is awaiting the Virginia governor’s signature.
Virginia state legislators want to allow online-only publications with regular local news coverage to be able to legally post public notices – and generate revenue from them.
Among the stipulations: the online site must employ local news staff and have its own dedicated domain name. A link to the public notice section must be easily found from the home page, and the content cannot be behind a paywall.
The Orleans Hub certainly meets these standards, and we have a good following of readers. Our traffic last year topped 8 million pageviews for the 8th straight year.
The Hub remains grateful for our advertisers and the many loyal readers who check our site. Some of the Hub readers come back many times a day.
People willing to donate to the operation can mail a check to the Orleans Hub, 170 North Main St. Albion NY 14411 or click here for an online contribution. Thank you.
We read with interest the recent article celebrating the 60th anniversary of the United Way of Orleans County and was bothered by a glaring omission. Our mom, Marian Goheen was an integral part of the beginnings of the United Fund of Orleans County.
Van Hungerford may have been the idea man but our mom was the hands and feet of the organization from the beginning, having the title of Executive Director from 1966 to the time of her death in 1982.
The Fund was originally designed to eliminate canvassing for funds from all different groups and worthy causes. At first those organizations were nationally recognized – Red Cross, Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America, to name a few.
The United Fund provided a single campaign soliciting funds for all of these other groups that used to individually knock at your door. We think our mom would be extremely proud of how the United Way has progressed to a point where they are now supporting so many smaller, local groups and organizations to the benefit of the whole county.
Thank you for indulging us in remembering our mother and, as the Hungerford boys mentioned, she was to us what their father was to them, an incredible role model and inspiration.
Happy Birthday to the Orleans Hub. (11 on April 1.) The Orleans Hub plays a vital role in promoting civic engagement, by informing readers of charity events, street closures or the opening of new businesses.
The Hub also connects citizens with their government and elected leaders at all levels. Informing the public allows citizens to make informed decisions and hold our government accountable.
The Orleans Hub provides a diversity of voices and opinions that are not available elsewhere. Happy Birthday to the Orleans Hub, a vital source of connections for our community.
I checked and the character Elmer Gantry did not hawk bibles. Neither did the person whose life story was portrayed, religious grifter Billy Sunday.
The commission being paid Trump for his bibles – with secular material included – is not being used for his political fund raising. It is part of his current fund raising to pay his legal bills which this month includes defending alleged hush money, money actually paid to a porn star he slept with.
Has anyone noticed that Trump never pardons any one whose defense depends on his testimony? I wonder if he will testify about Stormy Daniels and the reasons behind the pay off.
Some commentors say it is a weak case as people who actually claim to be Christian would have voted for him anyway. The claim is they are still Christian even though they are willing to enable sin from someone who has not repented. It will be interesting to see how Bible sales go. No matter, repent or not, this is clearly grifting during a week many find holy.
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” – Matthew 24:24
“Go To The Max” – Come to Church Palm Sunday 10:30 Mass at Holy Family, Albion was simply beautiful.
Even if you are Christian, but not Catholic, there are reasons you should come to Holy Family the rest of Holy Week. First, and nearest to my “heart,” we have a wonderful half and half women and men choir. We have long-time choir director and organist, Harriette Greaser, who has perfectionist skills and an artist’s tastes. The church’s acoustics are excellent.
On Palm Sunday, the well-rehearsed choir’s harmonies, rhythms and dynamics were dead on. And then there was Susan Walter on flute. The exquisite beauty of her low-register playing, coupled with Harriette on the organ brought tears to many eyes.
She, Harriette and then the choir with them, captured the underlying sadness of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to only 4 days later with his treacherous capture, crucifixion and death. As we believe, He did that all for us.
These services from Palm Sunday through Easter, have always resonated with me, since probably the 4rd grade, when I became an altar server.
Pastor Mark Noonan encouraged us to “Go to the max,” this week. He quoted the apostles to the newly risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, “Stay with us.” Jesus will and always stay with us, Father said.
Then there’s the other side: on Palm Sunday the Bible says that “the Lord had need of a donkey and place to celebrate the Passover.” Father Mark pointed out that Jesus has need of us and our faithful following and participation.
Parishioner adds, He needs us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” “whatsoever you do unto the least of these, you do unto Me,” “Hunger and thirst for Justice,” be a “Peacemaker,” and so many more of Jesus’ great teachings and example. The rest of the “Tridium,” Holy Thursday at 7 p.m., Good Friday at 3 p.m. and the Easter Vigil at 8:30 p.m. at Holy Family are open to all, who believe in Christ and His teachings, or for those searching for more than themselves.
As Father says, “Go to the Max” – appreciate it all. These services tend to be long, but relax, take a break from the constant gaggle out there, and be moved by the experience of Christ’s sacrifice, the art in this marvelous church and by some wonderful music.
Update on March 30 at 10 a.m.: Correction and addition: Service at Holy Family tonight is at 8:15 p.m. rather than 8:30. Also, the choir again will be in full force Sunday for 10:30 a.m. Mass. A highlight will be the “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah.
This time of year has been a busy one for schools, as talented individuals throughout the area graced their respective school stages in various musicals that showcase the impressive talent in our own backyards.
Not unlike the athletes who play more frequent games and receive plaudits for their accomplishments on the fields, courts, or diamonds, the students who work to put on shows have also devoted countless extra hours to something they are passionate about.
The community that develops within a musical theater production is quite unique, and one needed only be present for the final show of a 3-day run this past month to see the emotion on students’ faces.
The culmination of daily work starting approximately four months prior to each show was on full display for the public to see, and witnessing students pour their hearts and souls into their respective performances was truly a sight to behold from one’s seat in the audience.
Watching from the audience as a parent, though? No words can adequately describe the pride felt watching your own child do well on a stage in either a group or flying solo. Seeing them discover new talents or step out of their comfort zone and do so successfully is immensely satisfying.
Getting to know many of the students in several districts over the past few years has only added to this feeling, because the whole idea of “my kids” takes on a whole new meaning from inside a classroom and that pride is exponentially multiplied.
Along with all of this, the time and effort put in by the teachers who undertake such intensive projects needs to be applauded. They are effectively music/drama coaches who manage to take our children and push them to reach their potential in ways many of them never imagined possible.
Along with the students, I’ve gotten to know a few of these professionals through working at several local districts in the past couple of years, and through watching my own kids grow up with music instruction during the school year and through summer programs. They are extraordinary people!
Ultimately, I’m sure there are many people reading this who enjoyed the collaborations between these teachers and students that made its way to local stages during March. To all of the students who have participated, I hope you found the experience as rewarding as I’m sure your parents found it entertaining.
And, if you’re an underclassman, I hope you continue on with this activity next year. As for the teachers who have made it their business to coax the best out of these students to put their vision on stage, I thank all of you as a parent, a spectator, and a fellow educator. You all deserve a curtain call and a standing ovation!
Suicide rates are higher than they should be and not enough is being done to lower them. In the United States suicide is one of the leading causes of death in young adults.
Currently there are government funds that go toward suicide prevention, but there is more that can be done. The government should take more action in the efforts to lower suicide rates.
The average number of suicides went up from about 81 per day in 2001 to about 121 in 2020. More than 90% of people who die from suicide have experienced some sort of mental illness. Between 2021 and 2022 suicide deaths increased 2.6% in the United States alone. In 2021 there were over 48,000 deaths by suicide.
Local governments could get more involved by holding mental health meetings in public places, with trained professionals to help people with suicidal thoughts, and give them a place where they can speak freely with others who have similar thoughts. These could be held almost anywhere with a decent size room, like a town hall.
The government could also create offices or help centers that are open 24/7 so that people have a safe place to go when they need help. If someone needs urgent help and feels they need to see someone instead of calling the hotline, they can go to a help center.
These offices or centers can also help spread community awareness about what others can do to help. This information center could serve as a location for people who want or need more information on suicide prevention, to get advice from professionals. Professionals at these centers can help families find ways to help a person struggling to cope, until they feel up to going in to get help themselves. These centers would be government funded.
These are some actions that the different levels of government can take toward reducing the rate of suicide in the United States. Their ability to help is crucial to saving lives. If attention is not brought to this subject, then there might not be any meaningful change.
